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What are the visa options for UK citizens wanting to stay in Thailand longer than 90 days?

Visa InformationUK CitizensTourist VisaNon-O VisaNon-OA VisaThai ImmigrationRetiree VisaVisa Rules and Regulations
Sep 3, 2024
3 months ago
Trisha *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Visa information required please.

My husband and I are UK citizens and travel to Thailand frequently as our son and granddaughter live there. Our son stays on a work visa and our granddaughter holds both a Thai and British passport.

When the ability to enter for 60 days came into effect with the option to extend to 90 days, my husband and I booked flights.

October - November for 49 days, we then booked flights December - March 89 days. We have now found out we can only stay a maximum of 90 days on a tourist visa over 6 month period.

We are both retired aged over 60 years old, is there another visa we can apply for before we consider changing our flights.

Thank you.
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The user, a UK citizen traveling frequently to Thailand to visit family, inquired about visa options as they believed there was a new limit of 90 days over a 6-month period for tourist visas. However, several community members confirmed there is no such rule and that tourists can stay for 60 days under the visa exemption, with the possibility of extensions. They suggested alternative visas such as Non-O or Non-OA for longer stays. It was also noted that while there is no official 90-in-180 day rule in Thailand, frequent visitors may face more scrutiny from immigration officers.
NON-O RETIREMENT VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES
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  • Explore recent discussions by using the Non-O Retirement Visa tag in the search box at the top of the page.
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Ian *********
after your 90 days u need go out and come back in then u get 60 again and can extend 30 again. thats 6 mth and its what i do,
3 months ago
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David ***********
I think its wrong. However without a visa youll need to have evidence that youre leaving with 60 days so a flight after 89 days wont be accepted. You may need to book.a cheap flight out after 60 days or less even if you throw the tickets away
3 months ago
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Terary **********
Immigration is very lax here.. I don't think you have any need to change your flights.
3 months ago
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Trisha *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Thank you everyone for your comments I feel a little more reassured. Seems it can all depend on the IO and my husband and I are not breaking any written down rules.
3 months ago
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Ian ********
The 90 day in 6 month is an unwritten type rule by which the immigration officer might question you a litlle more deeply if you were regularly visiting Thailand using visa exempt entries as a way of spending most of the year here without the correct visa. In your circumstances you have nothing to worry about. As people have said there is no such official rule but they do use it, I have had to explain myself a few times over the years, however its nothing you need to worry about.
3 months ago
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John **********
Depending on how frequently you come it may be worth looking at either the Non-O or Non-OA visas
3 months ago
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Henrik *****
Best place to check visa rules at the website of the nearest Thai embassy ….. or this group.
3 months ago
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Trisha *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Henrik ****
 thank you I’ve now emailed London embassy
3 months ago
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Henrik *****
You may have to wait very long for an answer, which most likely can be found on their website.
3 months ago
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Henrik *****
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Rok ********
EU has
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rule …. No such thing in Thailand. Extend and Border run as long as you can get away with it is the rule in Thailand: you will know as you will be warned ( “this is last time” the immigration officer will tell you, usually they do not refuse entry….). They however can start looking at other criteria which could be used against you: exit route out of the country within 90 days, 20,000 baht on you, booked accommodation so being compliant after few extension and border runs is crucial.
3 months ago
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Trisha *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Thanks for all your feedback my husband found this link on this group

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3 months ago
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Alistair **********
@Trisha ******
 I clicked the link and am not sure what specifically you found from it. As the other comments mentioned there is no such 90day limit rule within 6 months. You also aren't entering on a tourist visa, but via the visa exemption scheme which is now 60days. There are no issues with your planned itinerary.
3 months ago
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Trisha *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Alistair *********
 open link then
3 months ago
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Trisha *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
3 months ago
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Trisha *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Harmony Joy, then
3 months ago
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Trisha *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
3 months ago
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Trisha *******
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Trisha *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Alistair *********
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3 months ago
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Trisha *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Alistair *********
 yes Alistair I’ve just clicked it too and you’re correct no mention of 90 day rule within 6 months. Let me try and send again
3 months ago
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Trisha *******
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Brandon ************
@Trisha ******
 regardless of what he found, no such rule exists
3 months ago
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Lynnette *******
@Trisha ******
 it's wrong.
3 months ago
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Lynnette *******
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Steven *******
Who told you you can only stay a maximum of 90 days on a tourist visa over a 6-month period?
3 months ago
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Trisha *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Steven ******
 link on another website
3 months ago
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Trisha *******
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Brandon ************
There is no such rule. You won't have any problems with your existing plans.
3 months ago
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Lauren ******************
Is that a new rule? Didn't use to be the case
3 months ago
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Trisha *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Lauren *****************
 it’s very confusing, nothing in writing just hear say. I’ve contacted the London embassy re Visa regulations
3 months ago
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Lauren ******************
I think it's hear say. I know lots of people who work
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weeks off shore in own country etc and then come here on tourist visas only
3 months ago
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Lauren ******************
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John ********
No such rule of 90 days over a 6 month period. Where did you hear this from? It’s wrong in any case
3 months ago
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Trisha *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@John *******
 my husband found this on this group

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3 months ago
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John ********
@Trisha ******
 don’t believe anything you read there with regards to visas.
3 months ago
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John ********
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Thai Visa Advice and Everything Else
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